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Practical Mama

Practical wisdom and balanced lifestyle for parents

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Kids' Health

How to boost your family’s immune system in the winter

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

Boost your kids immune system

This winter was brutal for everyone. The predicted day-after-tomorrow kind heavy snowfall has never arrived in Chicago. On the contrary, we barely had any freezing cold days. Because of this mild winter, all kind of viruses were having a ball. Everyone around us got at least flu and some got stomach virus as well. Whoever got sick told me that once … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

Massage for ear infection and earache

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

Earache relieving massage

My son used to have ear infections very frequently before he had his adenoids and tonsils removed. He used to suffer from earaches a lot and we used to help him get better with pain relievers. At that time, we got help from an osteopath but no matter how much he tried, ear infection came back. The last ear infection he got was last summer because … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

When baby teeth fall out but permanent teeth don’t come in right away

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

My daughter's lower front teeth fell out right before she turned 6. The permanent teeth were growing even before the baby teeth could fall out. They hung on by a thread for quite a while, which caused the adult teeth to grow inwards for a while.On the other hand, her two upper front teeth fell out last April when when was close to 7,5. This … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

Not-so-scary Halloween Treat Ideas

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

If you've seen my Healthy Halloween treats post last year, you already know that I'm "that mom" in our block, by now. This year, I'm adding familiar faces (characters) to my portfolio. Welcome, Ninja Turtle Apples! They take more work (and material) than clementine Jack-o-lanterns. I used crepe streamers, marker and glue. Beware that Sharpie ink … [Read more...]

Books, Kids' Health

Book Review: Perfect Health for Kids

By Practical Mama |
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"Perfect Health for Kids - 10 Ayurvedic Health Secrets Every Parent Must Know" is a book about health care, not sick care. I learned so many vital health information, not only for my children’s health but also for all of us in the family. I read the book again in order to prepare for the new school year, where good health and mental focus is … [Read more...]

Kids' Health, Nutrition

Healthier treats to give out to Halloween trick-or-treaters

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

While the North Dakota mom, who plans to hand out flyers instead of candy, is having her 15-minutes of fame, we are ready for today's trick-or-treaters with clementines (or Cuties as brand name) for the second year in a row. We painted Jack-o-lantern faces with markers this year. Kids loved getting cuties last year. Both little ones, as well as … [Read more...]

Sleep

Why do kids who have hard time waking up during school days, wake up early during weekends?

By Practical Mama |
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My son is in second grade and my daughter is in preschool. They go to different schools and their starting times are different. In order to make it to the school bus, I have to wake my son up, the latest at 6:30 am during school days. It is hard for him to wake up at 6:30 am even though he goes to bed as early as possible. It's even hard for me to … [Read more...]

Kids' Health, Positive Parenting

“Taste it once” rule

By Practical Mama |
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My kids aren't picky - luckily - and they have a good appetite. However, time to time, when they are offered new food or dishes, they might be reluctant to try. My son is a little bit sensitive to smell and texture in taste. My daughter, might refuse either to imitate her brother, or just because she's decided so. It sometimes works other way … [Read more...]

Sleep

Simple tip to make your morning routine to school a breeze

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

As a parent, you learn early on that sleep cycle doesn't work as logical with babies and kids, as it does in adults. The biggest advice for early risers is to put them in bed earlier. Also the less day-sleep they get, the less they sleep at night. It goes pretty much the same for the morning routine.I have been waking my son up as late as … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

Hashimoto Diagnosis after my second child’s birth

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

My son is a spring baby. I gained reasonable and timely weight during my pregnancy. I exercised, I walked. Despite the fact that I walked more than I ever did, my son came 9 days later than my due date. After his birth, we kept walking by the lake everyday with my son. When he was 1 years old, I attended the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  I was back … [Read more...]

Kids' Health, Nutrition

Why we prefer not to order from kids menus in restaurants

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

In the last two weeks, we had to eat out  more than usual because we had guests. During the first visit, we went to a nice American restaurant which is not a chain and our server recommended Mac Cheese for children. We told him that our children eat from the adult's menu, right when, my son had opened the menu, screaming “I want calamari!” as my … [Read more...]

Sleep

5 reasons why I chose not to co-sleep with my babies

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

Our children sleep in their own cribs and beds a soon as they were born. For the first 8 months, their crib stayed in our rooms (in parents’ room). Once they started standing up and cruising, and became more alert to sounds around them, we figured out that their sleep is interrupted when we sleep in the same room. We did "separate room readiness … [Read more...]

Health, Kids' Health

Supplementing Vitamin D in winter months

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

Vitamin D is a vitamin that is fat-soluble and not found widely in foods we consume. It is very crucial for adults and kids. It is required for bone health and immune system. It helps our body to absorb calcium and promote bone health.The very basic source of vitamin D is through the absorption sunlight through out skin. Our body produces … [Read more...]

Kids' Health, Nutrition

Teaching kids how to eat healthy

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

I am known as the crazy daughter or wacky daughter-in-law among my family members. I might turn into a evil witch when people offer unsolicited sweets or candies to my kids. Yes, I am that mother.I love deserts and chocolate myself, that’s for sure, I won't lie. "Sweets and candy" is not limited to grocery/bakery purchased packaged foods. For … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

Rome wasn’t built in a day

By Practical Mama |
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Those who have “healthy eating, exercising and losing weight” at the top of their whose New Year resolution list and started working on the list right away on the 1st (or Monday the 2nd). How is it goingAny progress?I don’t know what you expect from yourself. If everything is going the way you planned, then great. I just wanted to write you, … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

Preparing children for emergencies

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

Most of us must have experienced the nightmarish experience of being separated from our parents and getting lost in public.. I have experienced both. It happened to me when I was about 5 and to this day I remember it very clearly even though I don't any other memory until I was was. Thank God my mother found me later on.That scare I had when I … [Read more...]

Kids' Safety

How to teach your kids about stranger safety

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

We are raising our kids in an era of paranoia. Even though I consider my own parents as cautious and prudent, I am not sure I would be able to let my kids to do the things that I was able to do leisurely when I was growing up. (see parenting manual, chapter on “you’ll understand when you have kids”) At least, you could trust a small circle of … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

A good night’s sleep is not just for babies or children

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

I could not write yesterday, because I needed to practice what I am about to preach. This is the only subject on healthy living that I know, believe in and write about but cannot practice properly. It is interesting that I am passionate about writing on health but I lack practicing my sleep related suggestions.For a healthy life, the basic … [Read more...]

Product Review, Sleep

Product Review: Portable Hide Away Bed Rail

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

Kids have been sleeping in their new bunk beds for a long time. My son is 6,5 and daughter is 4 years-old now. They occasionally wake up at night. Sometimes they come into our bed in the morning. In some cases, when they need to sleep in separate rooms, when one still wants to chat, we take one into our bedroom (until they fall asleep) and the … [Read more...]

Kids' Health

How my transformation began

By Practical Mama |
This post may contain affiliate links

THIS IS HOW EVERYTHING STARTED2004: Before I got pregnant for my son, I was fit as far as my weight and measurements went. I was working out regularly. My pregnancy went really well. Despite being chocolateholic, I never touched sweets and/or chocolate during my pregnancy. (started 140 lbs. -63.5 kg)2005: Giving birth in May is a wonderful … [Read more...]

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I am a mother of two and a type of person who you would call “Jack of all trades, master of none”. As you might guess from categories, I love my children, reading, sewing, gardening, traveling and cooking. I also work full time so I have to be practical to do all the things I want to do in a 24-hr-day. More About Me


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